Jakob Ingebrigtsen wins his first World Indoor title in a tactical 3000m final, while Kenya’s Cornelius Kemboi impresses.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen finally added a World Indoor gold to his glittering resume, storming to victory in the men’s 3000m final in Nanjing, China, with a perfectly timed sprint that left the field trailing.
The Norwegian sensation clocked 7:46.09 to clinch his first world indoor crown — and the first half of what he hopes will be a golden distance double.
The 23-year-old played a patient game throughout the race, content to sit behind Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi as the laps ticked down.
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When Aregawi surged late in the race, Ingebrigtsen stayed close, waiting to pounce. And when the moment came, he did not miss.
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Launching his decisive kick off the final bend, Ingebrigtsen flew past Aregawi, who could not respond to the late burst. Australia’s Ky Robinson claimed the bronze, while Aregawi settled for silver after doing much of the front-running.
“It was all about staying calm and making the right move at the right time,” Ingebrigtsen said after the race as per World Athletics.
“Berihu made it tough, but I trusted my strength and my finish.”
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Behind the medalists, USA’s Sam Gilman delivered an impressive fourth-place finish in 7:47.19, narrowly ahead of compatriot Dylan Jacobs.
But it was Kenya’s Cornelius Kemboi who made waves further down the line, clocking a personal best of 7:49.00 in a thrilling photo finish with Morocco’s Anass Essayi — a huge milestone for the rising Kenyan star.
Despite the absence of a Kenyan in the medals, Kemboi’s gritty performance stood out in a world-class field. His PB shows he’s rapidly closing the gap on the world’s elite and is one to watch in upcoming championships.
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Kenyans faced setbacks in Nanjing as key athletes exited early, impacting the nation’s medal hopes at the global event.
The final was set up after dramatic semifinal heats, where Great Britain’s Neil Gourley took control of his race with a bold front-running display, admitting afterward that captaining the GB team brought unexpected nerves.
“I think I was a lot more nervous giving my speech as team captain than I was for the race,” he joked.
Meanwhile, Ingebrigtsen won his semifinal with ease, cruising ahead of Austria’s Raphael Pallitsch and confirming his favorite status.
The Olympic champion now shifts his focus to the 1500m, where he aims to complete the indoor double.
